Page 139 - In Five Years

Chapter Twenty-Four

Bella is supposed to spend seven days in the hospital, but because of her age and
general health she’s released after five, and on Saturday morning I meet her at
her apartment. Jill has gone back to Philadelphia for the weekend to “take care

of some business,” but hired a private nurse who runs the place like military
quarters. The apartment is spotless when I arrive, more orderly than I’ve ever
seen it.

“She won’t even let me stand up,” Bella says.
Every day she has looked better. It’s impossible to understand how she could
still be sick, how there could still be cancer cells in her. Her cheeks are now rosy,

her body has regained its color. She’s sitting up in bed when I get there, enjoying
scrambled eggs and avocado, a side of toast, and a cup of coffee on a tray.
“It’s like room service,” I say. “You always wanted to live at a hotel.”

I set the sunflowers—her favorite—I brought on the nightstand.
“Where is Aaron?”

“I sent him home,” she says. “The poor guy hasn’t slept in a week. He looks
way worse than I do.”
Aaron has kept vigil at her bedside. I went to work, slogged through the days,
and came in the morning and night, but he refused to leave. Watching over the

nurses, her monitors—making sure no misstep was made.
“Your dad?”

“He’s back in Paris,” she says. “Everyone needs to understand that I’m fine.
Obviously. Look at me.”
She holds her hands above her head in proof.
Chemo doesn’t start for another three weeks. Long enough for her to recover,

but not long enough for any cells to spread in a significant way—we hope. We